Notes for LAWRENCE EDWIN BROWN:
In Memory of Lawrence Edwin Brown, August 23,1905- January 14, 1990, survived by daughters, EDNA B.
STALLINGS, ELLEN M. SMITH, MILDRED M.SEBRING sons EDWARD A. BROWN, ROBERT D.
BROWN, KENNETH BROWN, BILLY RAY BROWN, sisters RUTH QUINN, ALLIE M. EAKINS,
brothers FRANK, J.D. and C.W. BROWN. Funeral held 10:00am Wednesday the 17th January 1990 at
Rudder Funeral Home Chapel, Stevenson, AL . Reverend Jerry Owens. Interment Stevenson City Cemetary,
21 Grandchildren, 13 great Grandchildren. LE was a member of the First Babtist Church and a member of
the Masonic Lodge #127. Retired employee of L & N Railroad. The Twenty-Third Psalm. Songs by
Brother Hal Yancey. How Great Thou Art.
Memories from Willie Edna Stallings:
Known as L.E., he was 6 feet tall, stood straight and walked with a definite spring in his step, no one
could keep up with him walking down the road.
Willie was short, she could stand under his outstretched arms when they were married.

His parents parted ways when he was very young, since he was the oldest he seemed to take
responsibility for the welfare of the family. He went to work for the Southern Railroad, first. His
mother had to sign a work release for him. He soon transferred to the N.S. & State L System and
remained in their employment until his early retirement in 1969.

L.E. was a very hard working man. He had to leave school in the 8th grade, but loved learning.
He took home courses in math and electricity. He educated himself in carpentry, electricity, plumbing, and home repair. He was in demand on weekends when he was home, ( had to stay
away from home on the week days ), by the home owners of Stevenson to do repairs, paper
hanging and painting. He always had something to do and could do anything. He did not have
to hire anyone to do work for him. He worked his way up to Foreman of the railroad crews that
built bridges, causeways, culverts and railroad beds for N.C. & St L ( later changed to L& N railroad).
He was the crane operator, was very good at driving pilings. He really enjoyed his association with
people from Chattanooga to Nashville. Met some great people and they were nice to him. He did
not want to retire, but had to on account of his health. He was a patient in the hospital many, many
times and I can remember 30 times at least. He had several surgeries, but would alway bounce back
and get to work as soon as possible. It seemed like if anything happened to him it was the worst in
the world. He had back surgery and phelibitis set in in his leg. The doctors where a while finding out what was wrong. He would often say, " My big toe is killing me". Sure enough it was the
infection that made his toe hurt. He thought the doctors did not care about how bad he hurt.

One thing that really remains awesome to me is how much he cared for his Grandpa and Grandma
Guinn. They were good to him and he never forgot it. His mind left him right before he died, but
he remembered them. He loved his relatives, Walter Lee Brown was someone he really cherished
and he always talked about him with me. He never got over his dad leaving his family. It made me
so sad to hear him say, " I don't know why he left us children". He loved children, but he didn't
know how to be a tender father. He was loud and gruff and when he whistled we scattered like
a covey of birds, when we were kids.

The stamina and drive that he had to work was passed on to his children. Were all work nuts.
During the depression, when he was laid off by the railroad he would work for the farmers in the
fields for a $1.00 a day to buy food. He always looked after his brothers and sisters as best he could.

I remember his prediction about the economy, which I passed off lightly until it became a reality
When Mead Corporation and H.D. Lee Company moved here ( the Stevenson area ), he said they
would only use our resources and tax credits, then move on. H.D. Lee Company is gone, but the
Mead Company is still here. I don't know for how long though. When H.D. Lee Company shut down, dad's words rang in my ears, afresh and anew. I miss him!